UK Prepay 'Check Balance' on VMC 9.4.6.20529 - How to get working

[AJBVODAFORUM]

After installing a copy of the UK compatible VMC 9.4.6.20529 for use with a 1Gig unexpiring SIM, the Check Balance feature kept on failing with the message, PAYT service not available. Knowing the service was working, on both a phone and on an older copy of VMC, I switched to reverse engineer mode... To the point, the balance check number was configured incorrectly in one of the many XML files that accompany the VMC installation.

To fix (at least in my case):

1. Remove the dongle and close down VMC - so no icon is shown in the System tray [the windows background service can be left running though]

2. Navigate to the folder (assuming standard instal)

    C:\Program Files\Vodafone\Vodafone Mobile Connect\Opco\23415 United Kingdom\Prepay\

3. In the Prepay folder, copy the file 23415.xml to SafeCopy23415.xml - just in case!

4. Using Notepad / WordPad / etc, open the XML file 23415.xml for editing.

5. Scroll down to the bit that looks like :

  <PrePaidSettings ReplaceOld="" ReplaceNew="">
    <Type>USSD</Type>
    <Ussd>*#134#</Ussd>
  </PrePaidSettings>

  Notice anything amiss with the <Ussd> node value?

6. Amend the ussd node with the correct balance number check. Hence :

  <PrePaidSettings ReplaceOld="" ReplaceNew="">
    <Type>USSD</Type>
    <Ussd>*#1345#</Ussd>
  </PrePaidSettings>

7. Click save ( remembering this is a file with the .xml extension )

8. Restart VMC... You should be able to check the PAYG balance!

If anyone knows the impact this change has on other parts of the VMC platform, or even the spin axis of the Earth, please do tell? Personally, I consider VMC a cranky application; there's so much feature bloat that one wonders if the term 'Lite' should apply? As for the value of my time taken in solving and reporting this developer-oversight, far exceeds the value of the credit shown 🙂

Download 9.4.6.20529-RC9 (73Mb) from here

Regards,

Andy B

[jarviser]

Interesting. The same lines are in the full variant V10, albeit in the Copco-23415.xmll file

Ironically There does not seem to be an option in V10 to check online balance even though the xml file seems to be there - there is just a link to the vodafone website which is the place I use, as I'm not normally a Windoze user..

[ckyen]

Hi

Anyone know why it's impossible to download any PC windows software for a K4505 from the Vodafone website?

I've tried all available linke possible....and nothing???

Thanks for any tips

[Retired-James]

Hi ckyen,

They have currently been removed from the website whilst updates are performed however; I have sent you a copy of the latest version for PC to the email address that you have used to register with us.

Simply download and run the attachment on the email.

James

[ckyen]

Hi James

I will give it a try, hope fully it will have all the Huawei K4505 drivers needed for Windows to recognise the device when plugged into the machine.

Many thanks

CK

[ckyen]

Hi again

Just a quick update with the outcome of installing that "VMB Setup-10.3.300.42078-RP235-full.cabinet" onto Windows 7.

It installed ok, however when I plugged in the Huawei K4505 Dongle, it wasn't recognised.

I turned the machine 'on & off' and replugged in the dongle, still wouldn't recognise it.

Went to 'control panel -> system -> device manager

Right clicked on all the 'missing driver icons for the dongle (x 6), to update or install from locating in the Windows file structures.NO drivers were found anywhere in the machines folders.

So for some reason the VMB Set up 10.3 DOES NOT have the connectivity drivers for the Huawei K4505 dongle.

The original software on the dongle, the one I was trying to download originally from Vodafones website, has ALL the connectivity drivers, however I don't have that software - VMC Lite 9.4.5.1991

So I had to scour the internet for alternative drivers, I went to the Huawei site and they do not support the K4505 in any way any more !

The last resort was one of these '4shared sites' where I came across this folder 'K3765_K4505_Driver'

and had to install by location in the device manager section manually one by one and now the dongle is recognised at last.

Bring back or have a link for ALL versions of VMC Lite, so this dilemma doesn't happen again.

Thanks

[Retired-James]

Hi ckyen,

I’m glad that you have managed to get this sorted I will flag your comments to our support teams to look into.

James